Brighton 2 Huddersfield Town 1: Early mistakes cost us, says Wagner

James Wilson hit a second-half winner as Brighton climbed to third place in the Sky Bet Championship with a 2-1 home victory over 10-man Huddersfield.

Bobby Zamora put Albion on their way to a first home win in four games before Harry Bunn levelled in first-half stoppage time.

French right winger Anthony Knockaert was outstanding on his home debut and set up both goals before a crowd of 25,367 at the Amex Stadium.

Huddersfield captain and central defender Mark Hudson collected a booking after only three minutes for a clumsy challenge on Israeli international striker Tomer Hemed.

Terriers goalkeeper Jed Steer, recalled after being ineligible for the FA Cup third-round replay at Reading in midweek, was not tested by the resulting free-kick with Dale Stephens driving over from 25 yards.

Jamie Murphy came to Brighton’s rescue following a corner from Joe Lolley by clearing a header from former Albion defender Joel Lynch off the line.

Brighton midfielder Beram Kayal received a booking for hauling down the onrushing Nahki Wells and the resulting free-kick from Emyr Huws was saved easily by keeper David Stockdale.

The Seagulls, who had taken only one point out of 15 before a 1-0 victory at Blackburn the previous week, should have broken the deadlock on 26 minutes.

Fine play from Murphy had the Terriers defence backpedalling but no one was on hand to tap in the former Sheffield United winger’s ball across the six-yard box.

But Albion went in front in the 30th minute when veteran striker Zamora hit his seventh goal of the season on the counter-attack.

Kayal, breaking forward quickly, released former Leicester winger Knockaert, and his pass into the box was guided in first time low and left-footed by the 35-year-old Zamora.

Zamora, who overtook Peter Ward in the Brighton goal chart with the winner at Blackburn and is now fifth in the club’s all-time scoring list, boasts 83 goals in 147 appearances for the Seagulls.

Albion had a let-off just before the break when the unmarked Wells blazed over with the goal at his mercy, but the Terriers levelled in stoppage time when Bunn hit his fourth of the season.

Seagulls keeper Stockdale went full to stretch to his right but was unable to keep out a header from Bunn, who arrived late in the box to connect with a Tommy Smith cross.

Knockaert put a 25-yard free-kick narrowly wide for the Seagulls before Albion boss Chris Hughton withdrew Zamora in favour of Manchester United loanee Wilson just before the hour mark.

Albion went back in front in superb style when Wilson, only on the field nine minutes, headed home from close range.

Knockaert was the provider and kept the ball in play superbly before beating his marker and curling in an inviting cross for Wilson in the 67th minute.

Huddersfield, unbeaten in their previous five league games, rarely threatened to snatch a point - although Lolley forced Stockdale to save after getting into a good position late on.

The Terriers played the final six minutes with 10 men after defender Smith received his second yellow card for tumbling over onrushing substitute Kazenga LuaLua.

Huddersfield manager David Wagner suggested a draw would have been a fair result after the teams went in 1-1 at the break.

The German said: “I think in the most part of the game we did quite well. If we had got something from the game it wouldn`t have been unfair.

“I think it was important not to make early mistakes and unfortunately for us we did.

“In the second half there was nothing much between the sides but at 2-1 down we didn`t create enough chances.”